Insights Into Remote Site Conditions Without Leaving Your Desk

Gain Insights Into Remote Site Conditions Without Leaving Your Desk: Industry trends, tips, and practical uses for aerial imagery and geographic data from First Base Solutions, the experts who brought you MapWarehouse.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Beyond the book report

If you need to reproduce a section of our maps and imagery to incorporate into your design proposal, research results, or similar professional documentation, spare a little room in your composition to cite your data sources correctly. It not only fulfills the legal requirements of our EULA, the credibility and professionalism of your work goes up as well.

Below you'll find some common examples for citing the source of data you've acquired from First Base Solutions as an inline citation in the border of a map or graphical compilation of data, figure details, footnote, or bibliography.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

What do you really know about mapping?

Maps take us from point A to point B, but what else can they do? Where does geographic data come from and how does it benefit businesses? Don’t fall for these common misconceptions about maps. Download the infographic to learn more.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Answer a few simple questions to find out if you really need new aerial imagery

They're not rainbows, it's the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, (i.e. light) the very stuff we capture for you in aerial photography. Download the infographic below to figure out what mapping data you need for your project and the best way to get it.

To develop, or not to develop in the floodplain?

I often get calls from developers, engineers, and regular home owners looking to make a few changes to their properties. If that property is crossed by a water feature, you may need to apply for a Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses permit in the course of having a development application approved.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Three days of shooting the breeze with our best clients.

What's CanWEA?

The Annual Canadian Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition is the meeting point for all members of the wind energy industry – top business executives, technical experts, decision and policy makers, and government representatives – to come together and address the key issues facing the industry today.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Finding terrain mapping can be an uphill battle

Elevation data from FBS is usually sold as either DEM with spot heights and break lines, or, as 1m interval contour lines derived from those DEM, but, we have a few other products you might not know about.

DON'T PANIC

FBS is a satellite imagery provider. We work with DigitalGlobe to bring you the most advanced commercial space imagery in the universe. Ordering is kind of complicated though, so leave that part to us.

Look past the price tag to see real value

Here we reviewed the differences between aerial and satellite imagery and how to download it for CAD and GIS projects. But what if you just need access to view the imagery outside of a traditional desktop mapping software?

You've got options
when it comes to sourcing imagery

Did you know the free imagery you see online is a composite of different sources? Look through the historical imagery on Google Earth and you'll see FBS's own orthophoto when zoomed in for maximum detail.

So... what exactly am I paying for?

Do you know what vital piece of information you need to plan your project and can't find it? Maybe you're not even sure where to begin looking. Start by checking out the essential cheat sheets below - and visit FBS University for more reference materials and free sample data.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Movie makers inspired by us real life cartographers have glamorized our craft.

Art imitates life. In honour of TIFF, First Base salutes maps in film. More than just geospatial data, maps in movies hang in the background, set the scene, define the battlefront, point the way and sometimes play a starring role themselves. Take a look at the clips below of the best in cinematic cartographic representations as recommended by you, the internet surfing movie watching public. Do you have a favourite?

Friday, August 28, 2015

Ghosts's eye view of Toronto's spookiest places

That chill in the air - it's not the seasons turning. Toronto has a spooky side. Take a look at the sites below with notorious reputations for hauntings. How well do you know the city? Can you guess the locations? Check your answers below.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Spotlight on cinema

The annual migration of celebrities and paparazzi is about to descend on downtown Toronto once again for TIFF 2015. At First Base, we make pictures of a different kind, orthophoto, which give us an overhead perspective to produce highly accurate maps, but also let us gaze upon the intricate details of the city from an angle seldom seen by stars of the film variety.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Books open, pencils ready...

University in September; an exciting and busy time indeed! Ontario has many options. Take a look below at all the university campuses in Ontario to see where you're sending your kids, and how each school compares.

Did you go to a bustling, urban campus with a city-sized student population, or a spacious, northern campus with a more intimate education experience? How did the school's geography affect your studies, social life, and overall experience? Leave comments below.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Agricultural festivals offer something for everyone

It's harvest time again in Ontario! With back to school just around the corner, fall fairs like the CNE in Toronto see mass crowds of fun seekers skipping out on a hum drum day at the office to whack a few moles, spin a few teacups, take in a show, and gorge on something deep fried and covered in sprinkles. All over Ontario at this time, local fall fairs celebrate the season's bounty with unique festivals, competitions and traditions. Here's a just a few spots where you'll find some fun this fall:

Friday, July 17, 2015

Turning a pipedream into reality

First Base Solutions' parent company, J.D. Barnes, has been providing surveying, mapping, and related land information services to support the development of TransCanada's Energy East Pipeline Project. The much needed infrastructure project, stretching 4600km across the country will safely deliver 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta to refineries and port terminals in New Brunswick when complete.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Get the big picture with aerial imagery

Follow our crew as they bravely travel great distances and battle the perils of the wilderness, blazing sun, and mosquitoes as big as your head to maintain trails, irrigation equipment and remote facilities...the old way.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Are you GAME day ready?

Two important dates for outdoor recreation enthusiasts in Ontario are coming up at the end of the month. First, bass season opens the last weekend in June for most areas. Second, applications for the annual doe tag draw are due June 30. If your plans involve heading into the woods, especially an area you're not familiar with, First Base Solutions has maps and solutions to help you plan your expedition, stay safe, and keep it legal.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Partnering up for safety, efficiency, and accuracy.

First Base Solutions (FBS), a leading provider of geospatial data and services is excited to announce its new relationship with Ontario One Call (ON1Call). FBS worked with ON1Call to develop a mapping interface that allows homeowners and contractors to easily and accurately submit location tickets for underground utilities on properties.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Save time and money in a few easy steps

If you're a title search specialist, a law clerk, or perform similar property research functions as part of your business, you can use VuMAP, a feature-packed online mapping application with easy to use, built in tools to research property information, compare aerial imagery year over year, and measure, draw and make notes over the map, to save time and money on difficult searches. Follow the step by step example below to see how.

Archiving paper map collections for good

Technology is a disruptor to traditional industries. No business is immune, including mapping. By this time, most of us have traded in our glossy yellow 800 page spiral-bound gas station staples for something more functional and purse friendly.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Save time and money in a few easy steps

If you work in any outdoor trade with a crew of mobile workers and equipment, you can use VuMAP, a feature-packed online mapping application with easy to use, built in tools to measure, draw, compare imagery year over year, and research property information, to save time and money on project administration. Follow the step by step example below to see how.